Isn’t it time you figured out what was causing your heel pain?
Are you currently dealing with heel pain? If so, you may want to know what’s going on so that you know how to best treat it. While most causes of heel pain will resolve on their own with the proper TLC and care, it’s always important to understand what’s going on when issues arise so that you know whether this is something you can handle on your own or whether you need to turn to our Scarborough, ME, podiatrist Dr. Peter Ocampo for help.
What can cause heel pain?
Even though there are many conditions and injuries that can lead to heel pain the two most common causes are plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Both of these inflammatory conditions are the result of overuse. If you suddenly increased the intensity or duration of your workout too quickly this can result in either of these problems.
Other causes of heel pain include:
- Heel spur
- Sprains and strains
- Fracture
- Bursitis
- Arthritis
In most cases, the heel pain will go away on its own with rest and at-home care; however, it’s important to visit your Scarborough, ME, foot doctor if your heel pain is severe, if it gets worse or isn’t relieved with at-home care or if your heel pain is accompanied by weakness, tingling or numbness in the foot.
How do you treat heel pain?
Of course, to be able to determine the best course of action when it comes to treating your heel pain we will need to examine your foot, discuss your symptoms with you and, in some cases, run imaging tests to find out what’s going on. Once we determine the root cause then we can create an immediate and effective treatment plan.
Luckily, plantar fasciitis, or Achilles tendonitis will go away on its own as long as you rest and do not perform any high-impact activities, which could exacerbate your condition. Other ways to ease symptoms include:
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
- Icing the heel 2-3 times a day
- Wearing a splint or supportive brace
- Stretching and exercising the foot
When these conditions do not respond to at-home care then it is time to consider other treatment options such as ultrasound or shockwave therapy, or corticosteroid injections. This is something you will discuss extensively with your podiatrist beforehand.
Don’t let heel pain keep you from doing what you love most. Southern Maine Foot & Ankle is proud to serve the Scarborough and Windham, ME, areas. Call us today and let us know what’s going on. We want to help!